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UDL - Representation

Imagine a day at school not many decades ago.  Every class except for gym class is a lecture and notes with an occasional video splashed in.  If you're a kinesthetic learner, these are going to be frustrating days.

Universal Design Learning (UDL) is an effective way to reach students who digest content in different ways.  Representation is the process of providing content in several different ways. As a music teacher trying to implement UDL through representation, an effective way to present a lesson may still consist of lecturing in class but with added components being made available.  For example, if I were teaching a general music class and we were learning about Beethoven I could lecture in class and then make available or present other media in class.  We could watch a documentary called Beethoven's Hair.  (It's a real thing.  Preview found HERE.)  I could find a podcast that talks about Beethoven.  I could present numerous audio/video clips of his music.  And, for the kinesthetic learners, I could teach them how to conduct Beethoven's music.

The trick is to have equal content.  All mediums must contain the information you are planning on putting on the assessments.  As an adult with ADD, this could be challenging as every search (even the search for the preview link) sends me spinning into a time-consuming rabbit hole of really cool information.  The challenge I see is a balance of incorporation.  Not all lessons can be like this as writing the curriculum would be grossly daunting.  However, finding ways for students to be successful in multiple media types will be important as well.  Much like good nutrition, if students only develop only in the media presentations they prefer, it would be like only eating sugar.  Eventually, something in the process will break down.

My goal as a teacher will be to make sure that my students get a well-rounded education.  I know that sounds so vague but it actually has a much deeper meaning than we usually give it credit for.  Well-rounded does not just mean how many subjects students are exposed to but how deeply they internalize the material.  And not just how deeply but also by how many ways they can internalize and then reproduce their learning.

Want to learn more?  Here's a great place to start.  http://www.udlcenter.org/aboutudl/udlguidelines/principle1

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